2 ms·
How has it not seen widespread use? Buy just about any consumer-grade power tool today, and inside will likely be some powdered metal components. They're in s
by Obi_Juan_Kenobi 9y ago
How has it not seen widespread use? Buy just about any consumer-grade power tool today, and inside will likely be some powdered metal components. They're in some of the high-end tools, too, and can provide excellent quality with decent design.
I have no clue whether these prototyping machines will produce parts of that quality, but the important observation is that 'good enough' is the key threshold. Many times you don't need the full strength of a machined steel part, just something a bit better than plastics can provide.
- cc439 9y agoThose parts are produced via Metal Injection Molding (MIM). MIM parts have similar issues to printed (laser sintered) parts but injection molding is a far more efficient process for mass production.
- tcas 9y agoI thought the gears are done via a simpler sintering process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K6_wbBnXmc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K6_wbBnXmc Is that still considered MIM?